The original comic-book industry rumour and news column, by Rich Johnston.
"The Drudge Report of comics..." -- Don Simpson

 Elmo Health Warning: 

This column is RUMOUR. Do not take anything here seriously. These RUMOURS are presented here as GOSSIP for their ENTERTAINMENT value.

Time To Pay Your Dues.

Okay people, a Ramblings call goes out again. Now, Ramblings is a free service, we don't try to sell you things (well hardly ever), we don't cover the page in loads of adverts (well hardly any) and we don't pass your names on to other companies for their junk mail lists.

So in return for reading such a fab column, we sometimes ask a favour. With me so far? Exscellent. Now, Comics International, the British comics trade mag, is relaunching the Eagle Awards, and are accepting nominations for a final voting form to be released in February. The deadline for nominations is January the 6th. You can find the forms by doing a search on www.deja.com for Phil Hall Eagle Comics or go to www.comics-international.com and click on the link.

Please enter, fill in the form, write whatever you want but remember these bits:

2/17 FAVOURITE COMICS-RELATED WEBSITE (professional)

2/18 FAVOURITE COMICS-RELATED WEBSITE (fan-organised)

2/19 FAVOURITE COMICS E-ZINE (a comic produced purely for the world wide web)

Now, we reckon it would be pushing it for 2/17, and anyway Mania will probably walk it, so how about nominating www.twistandshoutcomics.com for 2/18 and X-Flies: Flies In Black for 2/19?

Now of course, you can choose whichever nominations you like. But the more publicity we get, the more readers we get and the more scoops we get too. So it's in your own interest to raise Ramblings' profile! And while you're at it, why not pick up a copy of Comics International from your local comic shop. Strangely enough Ramblings '99 always seems to get a mention!

So thanks everyone! And maybe we'll be back for another favour when the voting form comes out in February.

Further Inside Image.

We've had two confirmations that the Jim Valentino memo printed below is genuine, both from Image creators. However it's been made clear by one that this memo refers solely to any new books proposedfor Image and that current projects from any Image creator are safe.

I've have also been made aware that various people have a wide interpretation as to what makes a "titty and gurls" book. Books like Fathom, More Than Mortal and Deity have been defended against such claims.

Personally, I've seen the common factor between many of these books as image-over-substance, which is kind of apt, considering the company's name. And certainly many of the Image founder studios, whether in Image now or outside suffer from this trait far more than the Image Central books. But it does seem there are many more Image books starring a 'strong, independent woman with a model's figure' than before. And I tire of another 'exciting new series in which xxxx fights monsters while still keeping her lip gloss'. Hopefully, with Jim Valentino at the helm, Image will steer itself towards sunnier waters of substance. Talking of which, just finished From Hell again, in Eddie's handy TPB. A piece of work that stands as a beacon of comic book substance. Something to take inspiration and probably perspiration from too.

While I've been in discussion with Jim Valentino, he has yet to verify or comment upon the information enclosed in the memo. Hopefully we'll hear something about Image's brave new direction soon! Anyone involved, or has an opinion on this matter is welcome to contact Ramblings at the usual address.

Santa Graphics

Want some free comics? Fantagraphics are giving a whole line free to any retailer who rings them up and contacts Gregory Zura. Each retailer will get a copy of the following books, intended to be given out to each shop's most loyal customers; A Sleepyhead Tale, All Waldo Comics, Ana, Arcane Eye of Hogarth, Are We Having Fun Yet?, Big Wheels, Bill Sienkiewicz Sketchbook, Billie Holiday, Bode Diary Sketchbook Vol 3, Curse of the Bloated Toad, Get Me a Table Without Flies, Harry, Gnat Rat, God's Bosom, Harum Scarum, Heartbreak Soup, Housebound with Rick Geary, International Bob, Into Every Life a Little Edge Must Fall, Invasion of the Mind Sappers, Island of Dr. Moral, Journey Vol 2, Love's Not a $3 Fare, Moon Looked Down and Laughed, My True Story, Omaha Vol 1, Optimism of Youth, Phantasmagoria, Pixy, Popeye Volumes 10, Popeye Volume 11, Powerhouse Pepper, Shroud For Waldo, A, Snake Eyes III, The Job Thing, The Most Important Thing, World War III, Zoot Suite.

Of course, if you see a sudden influx of Fantagraphics titles on your retailers shelves all at full price, we reckon you should be able to bargain them down with this information!

 Inside Image.

We've been forwarded an e-mail purporting to be an in-house memo at Image from Jim Valentino to Image creators. It goes as follows:

"One of the goals of this administration is to improve the Image brand. To that end we have taken and will continue to take stands that may prove unpopular in certain quarters. If these changes directly affect you or your book, we're sorry. It isn't personal. We believe that a stronger "i" will benefit the majority. To this end we've enacted the changes mentioned above (press releases with hyperlinks, new improved Previews section, tighter controls over the books we are publishing, zero tolerance of late books and we are still working on the web page-someday it will get done!).

More controversial will be our stand on the "sleeze factor". Two things we don't want: Old school Image "vacuum cleaner gun" books and gratuitous "titty" books. Does this mean that we have something against depictions of pretty women? Nope. Or against any type of "sexual content" (so long as it's non-pornographic) Nope. It means we want to get rid of those books whose sole existence is to prove that "gurls gots boobs." (and, oddly, no one who does this type of book will admit to doing them!!! We find that very curious). Call us crazy, but we feel that if we raise the bar a bit it will improve the "i" and that will translate into better sales for everyone! At least, that is our goal."

Pretty radical stuff there and, if it's true, we say way to go!

So, if this in-house memo is legit, how could this affect Image? Well, let's leave the other founders' books... I doubt Jim could affect those and his influence is going to be more over the Image Central books. So Witchblade, Fathom and stuff like E.V.E. Protomecha are safe. But things like Jinn, More Than Mortal, Lady Pendragon and all that Hyperwerks projects look on very shaky ground. And I bet we don't see CHIX for a while either...

If you've received this memo, or if you're a creator whose book may be affected, or if you're Jim Valentino, why not get in touch? The usual twisting@hotmail.com is recommended.

Castle Takes All.

Continuing the "sleeze factor", Ramblings would like to point out the best book in the new Previews. It's called Sleaze Castle: The Director's Cut, it's up to issue 3 collecting issues of the fantastic Sleaze Castle comic book with plenty mo' new material, and you'll find it in the Comics section under Gratuitous Bunny Comix. It's not sleazy at all, is good character-based sci-fi, has hundreds of the little Easter Eggs you all love in Top Ten and is genuinely funny. Order this, find back issues. You have been told! And if Jim Velentino is still reading... why haven't you picked this one up yet? Guaranteed no "gurls got boobs" style stuff here... more like "tiny aliens got serious Indiana Jones fetish" style stuff.

Cable Guy II.

Rob Liefeld writes :

"I would like to clear up the matter of who wrote Cable #75, as it was most certainly not me. I was given an outline/plot to follow for issue #75, provided by my editor Mark Powers after informing me that they were going to alter 75's original plot, which I have never had the privilege of seeing.

While I was disappointed at the fact that at the end of the story Cable had to wind up back on the cross, therefore not making much of a difference in the end, I went with my orders. Cable was to free himself from the cross, fight Wolverine, fight Apocalypse and sacrifice himself in order to return to the cross. The flashback stuff at the beginning was also provided for me to integrate into the story.

As to the scripting of the book, I have never scripted an issue of Cable and that assignment falls to the writer and editor, so I am not sure who does what. Cable #75 ultimately fell victim to the demands and restraints of an eight part crossover that, as is often the case, limits the amount of input the creative team has because the ultimate outcome is supplied by and decided by editorial. This is par for the course with the X-titles as they have orchestrated several successful crossovers over the years. Someone was bound to be disappointed, and I am to a small extent because I thought that this would provide an excellent opportunity for Cable to vanquish Apocalypse. It was not meant to be and the outcome will be decided in the other X-titles. I do feel that the fight between Cable and Apocalypse was long overdue and provided an outlet for fans who waited a long time for them to clash.

As to Joe Pruett, I think that he is an excellent writer and enjoyed working with him on our short stint. I felt he had a great understanding of the character and provided a good voice for him. I was disappointed that he was let go from the title as I enjoyed his work and look forward to his next efforts.

Ultimately, we can take some solace in the fact that together we helped boost sales of Cable at least 44% in our brief run. We turned the momentum around and I know that editorial has big plans for Cable and his role in the X-pantheon which should increase his profile even further. The X-office has successfully crossed about every major hurdle put in its path and it goes without saying that the franchise is an important commodity to Marvel, that being the case, the editors exercise the authority in regard to how things are written, drawn, lettered and colored. My first issue of CABLE had four drafts before it was decided that the original story was too be scrapped because they changed the summer storyline, them's the brakes."

Interesting spin from the other side there, now all we need is Mark Powers' version to tie these two conflicting reports together. Oh, Mark? Marky? Marky mark mark mark? We're listening...

"Real" Comics News on the Web, for those of you craving a low-rumour diet: 

• Mike Doran's Newsarama 
• Steve Conley's icomics 
• Digital Webbing 
• Indy Magazine 
• Comicon.com 
• The Comic Wire